These [are] also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out. Ver. 1. _These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the men._] Solomon "hath his thousand out of this his vineyard of three thousand proverbs," 1Ki 4:32 and these men of Hezekiah that kept, and yet communicated... [ Continue Reading ]
__ Proverbs 25:2 _[It is] the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings [is] to search out a matter._ Ver. 2. _It is the glory of God to conceal a thing._] That what we conceive not, we may admire (_mirari non rimari_), and cry out with Paul, "O the depth," Rom 11:33 as the Romans d... [ Continue Reading ]
The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings [is] unsearchable. Ver. 3. _The heaven for height, &c._] It is a wonder that we can look up to so admirable a height, and that the very eye is not tired in the way. If this ascending line could be drawn right forwards, some that... [ Continue Reading ]
_Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer._ Ver. 4. _Take away the dross from the silver._] The holy prophets were not only most exactly seen in the peerless skill of divinity, but most exquisitely also furnished with the entire knowledge of all things... [ Continue Reading ]
Take away the wicked [from] before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness. Ver. 5. _Take away the wicked._] Who are compared elsewhere also to dross, Eze 22:19 and fitly; for as dross is a kind of unprofitable earth, and hath no good metal in it; so in the wicked is no good... [ Continue Reading ]
Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great [men]: Ver. 6. _Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king._] _Ne te ornes coram reqe._ Compare not, vie not with him in apparel, furniture, house keeping, &c., as the Hebrews sense it. This was the ruin o... [ Continue Reading ]
For better [it is] that it be said unto thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen. Ver. 7. _For better it is that it be said unto thee._] From this text our Saviour takes that parable of his, put forth to those that were bidd... [ Continue Reading ]
_Go not forth hastily to strive, lest [thou know not] what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame._ Ver. 8. _Go not forth hastily to strive._] Contention is the daughter of arrogance and ambition. Jam 4:1 Hence Solomon, whose very name imports peace, persuades to peacea... [ Continue Reading ]
Debate thy cause with thy neighbour [himself]; and discover not a secret to another: Ver. 9. _Debate thy cause with thy neighbour, &c._] What shall I do then, may some say, if I may not right myself by law? You may, saith he, so you do it deliberately, and have first privately debated the cause out... [ Continue Reading ]
Lest he that heareth [it] put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away. Ver. 10. _Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame._] Repute thee and report thee an evil conditioned fellow, a backbiter, and a tale bearer, one not fit to be trusted with secrets. True it is that dearest friends are in... [ Continue Reading ]
A word fitly spoken [is like] apples of gold in pictures of silver. Ver. 11. _A word fitly spoken._] Hebrew, Spoken upon his wheels - that is, rightly ordered and circumstantiated, spoken with a grace, and in due place. It is an excellent skill to be able to time a word, Isa 50:4 to set it upon the... [ Continue Reading ]
Proverbs 25:12 [As] an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, [so is] a wise reprover upon an obedient ear. Ver. 12. _As an earring of gold, &c._] _Ut in auris aurea, &c._ A seasonable word falling upon a tractable ear hath a redoubled grace with it, as an earring of gold, and as an ornamen... [ Continue Reading ]
As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, [so is] a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters. Ver. 13. _As the cold of snow in the time of harvest._] Harvest men, of all men, bear the heat of the day, being far from shade or shelter, far from springs of... [ Continue Reading ]
Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift [is like] clouds and wind without rain. Ver. 14. _Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift_] As Ptolemy, surnamed Dωσων, from his fair promises, slack performances; as Sertorius, the Roman, that fed his creditors and clients wlth fair words, but did nothing for... [ Continue Reading ]
By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone. Ver. 15. _By long forbearing is a prince persuaded._] If he be not over hasty, his wrath may be appeased, and his mind altered. Our Henry III gave commandment for the apprehending of Hubert de Burgo, Earl of Kent, who, h... [ Continue Reading ]
_Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it._ Ver. 16. _Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient,_] i.e., Be moderate in the use of all lawful comforts and contentments. Aπαντων γαρ η πλησμονη, saith the orator, _a_ for there... [ Continue Reading ]
Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour's house; lest he be weary of thee, and [so] hate thee. Ver. 17. Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour's house.] This is a honey that thou mayest surfeit on, therefore make thy foot precious, or rare (so the original _a_ hath it) at thy neighbour's house, by too o... [ Continue Reading ]
A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour [is] a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow. Ver. 18. _Is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow_] A "maul," hammer, or club, to knock out his brains, and make them fly about the room, as the Hebrew word imports. A "sword," Psa 42:10 or murderi... [ Continue Reading ]
Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble [is like] a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint. Ver. 19. _Confidence in an unfaithful man, &c._] In a prevaricator, a covenant breaker, a perfidious person, such as Ahithophel was to David; Job's miserable comforters to him - he compares them to... [ Continue Reading ]
Proverbs 25:20 [As] he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, [and as] vinegar upon nitre, so [is] he that singeth songs to an heavy heart. Ver. 20. _As he that taketh away a garment in cold weather._] Music in mourning is held most unseasonable; that was a heathenish custom that the Jews had... [ Continue Reading ]
If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: Ver. 21. _If thine enemy be hungry._] Elisha did so: he feasted his persecutors 2Ki 6:22 by a noble revenge, and provided a table for those who had provided a grave for him. Those Syrians came to Dothan... [ Continue Reading ]
_For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee._ Ver. 22. _For thou shalt heap coals of fire._] By heaping courtesies upon him, thou shalt win him over to thyself, as the king of Israel did those Syrians he feasted. They came no more after that by way of ambush or... [ Continue Reading ]
The north wind driveth away rain: so [doth] an angry countenance a backbiting tongue. Ver. 23. _The north wind drives away rain._] Hence Homer calls it αιθρηγενουτην, the fair weather maker, and Jerome the air's besom. There is a southerly wind that attracts clouds and engenders rain. _a_ So doth... [ Continue Reading ]
Proverbs 25:24 [It is] better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house. Ver. 24. _It is better to dwell, &c._] _See Trapp on "_ Pro 21:9 _"_ _See Trapp on "_ Pro 21:13 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
Proverbs 25:25 [As] cold waters to a thirsty soul, so [is] good news from a far country. Ver. 25. _As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news._] This and many more of these proverbs Solomon might well utter out of his own experience, for he sent out into far countries for gold, horses, and o... [ Continue Reading ]
A righteous man falling down before the wicked [is as] a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring. Ver. 26. _A righteous man falling down before the wicked,_] _i.e., _ Doing anything, though by mere frailty, unbeseeming his profession, or that redounds not to the scandal of the weak only, _as _ Gal... [ Continue Reading ]
Proverbs 25:27 [It is] not good to eat much honey: so [for men] to search their own glory [is not] glory. Ver. 27. _It is not good to eat too much honey._] For it breeds choler and brings diseases. _ So for men to search their own glory,_] _i.e., _ To be "desirous of vain glory"; Gal 5:26 to seek t... [ Continue Reading ]
_He that [hath] no rule over his own spirit [is like] a city [that is] broken down, [and] without walls._ Ver. 28. _He that hath no rule over his own spirit._] _Cui non est cohibitio in spiritum suum,_ that reigns not in his unruly affections, but suffers them to run riot in sin, as so many headstr... [ Continue Reading ]